Haug: The title race starts now

Friday 26th September 2008

Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug believes the Formula One title race starts this weekend after Lewis Hamilton got the better of Felipe Massa in tonight's practice for the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix.

McLaren's Hamilton edged Massa of Ferrari in the first session by 0.080 seconds after setting a best lap time of one minute 45.518 seconds under the floodlights on the Marina Bay street circuit.

The 23-year-old from Stevenage looked set to dominate the second as well, before a fine last-ditch lap from Renault's Fernando Alonso put the Spaniard top of the timesheet after he clocked 1:45.654.

Hamilton holds a slender one-point lead over Massa at the top of the driver standings, with both men pushing for their first championship.

But Haug stressed there are likely to be plenty more twists and turns before the end of the season.

When asked whether he thought it was a two-man race for the title, the 55-year-old said: "I don't think it is. There are more involved than two guys, which is good for the sport.

"We will get some more points of course but I think this has been a thrilling season overall.

"We have had great races so far with new races in Valencia and this particular track being a night race.

"This season is going to be remembered as a remarkable season whatever happens.

"The championship starts right here because it is very close together between the top guys."

The world got its first glimpse of Formula One taking place at night with the Singapore street circuit impressing under the lights.

The general consensus from the drivers and the teams was that there were no problems with the light, although it has yet to be seen how rain will affect visibility.

With Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone keen to add more night races to the calendar, Haug believes it is a positive step forward for the sport.

"I want to thank everybody that was involved for making this happen," he added. "It is a big, big step forward for Formula One.

"It is a completely new experience for viewers worldwide. The whole scenery is unreal, it is like in a movie.

"Bernie (Ecclestone) pushed this very hard and so I have to thank him.

"It is a really good step forward and I am sure Singapore will be watched throughout the world this weekend."